The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

steadily and much business OF httie
general Importance has been put for
ward.
The "Soldier's Home" bill has pass
ed the Senate, and is now on its pas
sage in the House of Representatives,
where 1t ought to be killed. If
1t is really intended to benefit the inn
pecunious old soldier, let a pension
he paid to him, and let him remain
with his family. 1t seems almost
cruel to want to take these old men
from their families. There is no place
like home, be it ever SO humble.
1t seems that cock fighting in CO.
lumbia will be suppressed by an act
of the Legislature.
Abbeville, Pickens and Greenville
counties will have the subject of Lii
cense Or No-License submitted to
them in an acceptable form, and with.
out unnecessary vexation and trouble.
No new registration. No long peti-
tions. The County Commissioners
are directed to order the election with
in ninety days from the date of it's ap-
proval.
I The phosphate question is big one,
which we do not understand, and
which we have not studied. The Leg
islation in the past was not, in our
opinion, creditable to the Democratic
party. AS we understand it, the DEM
ocratic party simply endorsed some of
the worst Legislation enacted by their
predecessors.
The friends of high salaries seemed
to have developed considerable
strength. We have seen very lit
tie disposition on the part of this
Legislature to economize in anything,
except in the matter of dieting pris-
oners, which is to be reduced to 25
cents day, and in cutting off the
State printers "fat" pages.
An effort is being made to exempt
cotton, corn or other provisions from
taxation. This is unjust and uncon-
stitutional. The owner, speculator,
or producer, of these articles should
pay taxes like any other citizen. If
that bill becomes law, nothing can
prevent the owners of money from in
vesting in cotton Immediately before
the day for listing property for taxa
ton and selling the next day, and so
escape taxation. We see no reason
for exempting farmers from taxation.
Some sensible propositions have
been made as to jurisdiction in tri-
fling cases that need no attention at
all. All hen roost cases and all water
melon rows will hereafter be umpired
by the trial justices. The trial JUS
tices will have Jurisdiction in petty
larceny cases-where the amount in.
volved is less than $40. T.
The dog-law is now before the Sem
ate, having passed the house. A tax
or license fee of one dollar Is to be paid
on each dog, and the money to be paid
over to the schools. The chief objec-
ton to this bill lies in the apdropria-
ton of the money. Nearly every
measure of doubtful propriety propos-
es to put the fines, penalties, or fees
into the school fund-as has been
expressed-to sugar coat it. AS a mat
ter of fact, all clauses putting extra
money into the school fund should be
voted down for the simple reason that
it looks like such measures had to be
bought through. Let the money be
put fairly and squarely into the treas
ury, where it properly belongs. The
dog-law is good enough, and should
pass, if the Objectionable feature of
putting the money in the school fund
was removed.
If any Legislation looking to q re-
organization of the Supreme Court
has been attempted we have not no
ticed it.
1t is proposed to require additional
fee of 500 from persons getting license
to sell whiskey. This sum Is to be pnt
in the county treasury. The PROPOSE
ton is just and right as far as it goes.
All fees for licenses should 60 into the
treasury of the county. 1t is entirely
wrong to allow any corporation to ap-
propriate to its own use any of the IL
cense fees.
The following is offered in reference
to married women, and it is hoped the
Supreme Court may be able to under
stand it:
"a married woman shall have the
right to purchase any species of pro.
perty in her own name and to take
legal conveyances therefor, and to
contract and be contracted with i'll the
same manner as if she were unmar-
ried: Provided, that the husband
shall not be liable for the debts of the
wife contracted prior to or after their
marriage, except for her necessary sup
port"
The new County of Florence has
been created by the General Assem-
bly,. 1t will be made up from Marion.
Williamsburg, and Darlington coun-
ties.
The "A rst session of the South Caro-